Scottish Executive

Children's Hearings System

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will launch its review of the children's hearings system.

Peter Peacock: The review of the children's hearings system is being launched today with the publication of the review consultation pack, Getting it right for every child .

  This fulfils a commitment made in the Partnership Agreement to "review the children's hearings system to develop and improve the current service."

  Ministers recognise the strengths of the current system, with its child-centred approach, its involvement of local people and its focus on the care and welfare of young people, and want to hold on to those fundamental principles. However, it is now time to look constructively and critically at how the system is operating to make sure that it is relevant and effective in the years ahead.

  The review will have two phases. Phase 1, which will run until 21 July, will consider the principles and objectives of the hearings system and what the hearings system should be achieving for vulnerable children. It will invite suggestions for changes and improvements.

  Phase 2, commencing autumn 2004, will be concerned with the more detailed measures needed to implement the changes identified and agreed from phase 1.

  Copies of the consultation pack have been placed in the Parliament's reference centre (Bib. number 32458).

Culture

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the MTV awards in Edinburgh, what action it is taking to promote Scotland as a host nation for other international cultural events.

Mr Frank McAveety: Our vision is for Scotland to become one of the world's foremost events destinations by 2015. We established EventScotland in May 2003 to do this by taking forward our major events strategy, Competing on an international stage. EventScotland offers financial support and advice to secure, create or develop major international cultural and sporting events in Scotland.

Debt

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to prevent people accumulating unmanageable debt and what support it is giving those who find themselves in that situation.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Executive continues to support credit unions as they have a vital role to play in providing access to small loans at affordable interest rates, while at the same time encouraging a savings culture, which is a long-term way out of money problems.

  We also announced in January an extra £4 million for free money and debt advice for 2004-05 and 2005-06, to provide access to these services for vulnerable groups as well as boosting the existing £3 million per annum already committed to local authorities.

Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the pre-school education sector requires development in respect of qualifications and career progression routes.

Peter Peacock: The Executive recognises that work needs to be done in both these areas, and will take this work forward as soon as possible.

Education

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the provision of vocational college courses for pupils of 14 and older who wish to have that option.

Euan Robson: The Executive launched a review of collaboration between schools and further education colleges in October 2003 and a consultation in February 2004. These address provision of vocational college courses for pupils of 14 and older. The review will lead to a joint schools/further education strategy which will be implemented from academic year 2005-06.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether pupils in rural schools suffer educational disadvantage compared to pupils in urban schools.

Peter Peacock: The Executive aims to ensure an excellent education for pupils in all publicly-funded schools. Pupils in urban schools are likely to have easier access to some facilities and experiences which can contribute to an excellent education. However, the Executive has no evidence to suggest that pupils in rural schools have worse outcomes in directly comparable measures, such as attainment in national qualifications.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of pupils attending rural schools go on to higher education compared to the proportion of those attending urban schools.

Peter Peacock: The percentages of school leavers (2002-03) entering Higher Education from publicly funded schools are as follows:

  

 

Full-Time Higher Education



Large Urban Areas

28



Other Urban Areas

31



Accessible Small Towns

34



Remote Small Towns

33



Accessible Rural

34



Remote Rural

37



Scotland

31



  


Definitions
 



Large Urban Areas

Settlements of over 125,000 people. 



Other Urban Areas

Settlements of 10,000 to 125,000 people.



Accessible Small Towns

Settlements of between 3,000 and 10,000 people and within 30 minutes drive of a settlement of 10,000 or more.



Remote Small Towns

Settlements of between 3,000 and 10,000 people and with a drive time of over 30 minutes to a settlement of 10,000 or more.



Accessible Rural

Settlements of less than 3,000 people and within 30 minutes drive of a settlement of 10,000 or more



Remote Rural

Settlements of less than 3,000 people and with a drive time of over 30 minutes to a settlement of 10,000 or more.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any research evidence to suggest that the fabric of school buildings alone accounts for differences in educational attainment.

Peter Peacock: A wide range of factors bear on educational attainment. We are unaware of any research which suggests that the fabric of school buildings alone accounts for differences in attainment.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is given to local education authorities on minimising travel distances to schools.

Peter Peacock: No such advice has been given. The pattern of school provision and catchment areas is best determined at local level. Many children travel considerable distances to and from school in many parts of Scotland.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether pupils attending rural schools have the same entitlement to information technology facilities as those pupils attending urban schools.

Peter Peacock: Education authorities are responsible for the provision of information technology (ICT) facilities in their schools. The Scottish Executive provides financial support for the cost of ICT in schools to all education authorities. Finances are provided with no assumptions about varying the level of support to schools on an urban/rural basis.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any evidence that pupils from rural schools are less fit than their urban counterparts.

Peter Peacock: The Executive is not aware of any evidence available to indicate that pupils from rural schools are less fit than pupils from urban schools.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on parents being able to send their children to the school of their choice.

Peter Peacock: Local authorities responsible for providing adequate and efficient education services for their area. Within any area we consider that parental choice is an important part of the Scottish school education system.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines "rural" when categorising rural and urban schools.

Peter Peacock: There is no definition of a rural school in education legislation.

  For various statistical purposes, the Scottish Executive classifies settlements of 3,000 or less people to be "rural." That core definition is further refined by reference to settlements based on the 3,000 and 10,000 population thresholds. Settlements of less than 3,000 people and within 30 minutes drive of a settlement of 10,000 or more are classified as "accessible rural"; settlements of less than 3,000 people and more than 30 minutes drive to a settlement of 10,000 or more are classified as "remote rural."

  For statistical purposes, any school in an "accessible rural" or a "remote rural" settlement would be classified as a rural school.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what value it places on educational attainment in rural schools.

Peter Peacock: The Executive places a high value on educational attainment in all schools. Achievement and attainment are the focus of one of the five National Priorities in Education, set by the Executive and endorsed by the Scottish Parliament, which apply to all education authorities and their schools.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many rural schools have avoided closure as a result of the measures in the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and the Education (Scotland) Act 1981 to safeguard rural schools.

Peter Peacock: It is for education authorities to consider the pattern of school provision within their areas. The extent to which authorities may have decided either not to propose the closure of certain schools, or not to proceed with certain closure proposals which they may have made, and the reasons for such decisions, are matters for the authorities themselves.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken following the reporters' reports on rural schools to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee on 27 June and 4 July 2000.

Peter Peacock: These reports were addressed to the Parliament's Education, Culture and Sport Committee, and contained no recommendations directed at the Scottish Executive.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will update the legislation governing the closure of rural schools.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has no plans to amend the legislation relating to school closure proposals.

Environment

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Environment Agency in respect of the agency's proposals to introduce rod licenses on the River Esk.

Allan Wilson: Officials from the Scottish Executive, DEFRA and the Environment Agency have met recently to discuss the proposed fishery management plan for the Border Esk, which includes proposed new byelaws. The proposed introduction of rod licences is related to the introduction of this plan and byelaws. Discussions will continue as the drafts are finalised.

  Agreement on any new byelaws will be necessary between Scottish ministers and the relevant minister.

European Union

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the statement issued by its spokesperson and reported in the Sunday Herald on 21 March 2004 that "The First Minister and the permanent secretary are fully committed to freedom of information. Openness and transparency have been hallmarks of the organisation since devolution. The new act will ensure that this continues to be the case" and whether this statement means that information and material currently deemed confidential and private as part of the Concordat on Co-ordination of European Union Policy Issues will now be made available.

Tavish Scott: The Executive's commitment to openness and transparency does not mean that all information held by the Scottish Executive, whether under the Concordat on Co-ordination of European Policy Issues or otherwise, will automatically be made available under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. As the act recognises, there are circumstances where genuinely sensitive information should receive appropriate protection. Each request for information received under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 will therefore be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Football

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what the policy priorities are underlying the recent announcement of additional investment in football.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Executive is committed to increasing participation in sport and helping in meeting the targets set out in Sport 21. Football is our national sport and is enjoyed by a great number of boys and girls. What our investment in the Action Plan for Scottish Youth Football aims to achieve is to put in place a single policy and supporting structure to ensure more young people not only take up the sport but are given every opportunity to remain in the sport at the level appropriate to them.

Housing

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address rural affordable housing shortages.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Executive has committed £65 million in 2004-05 to fund over 1,400 affordable houses in rural areas. We are also conducting a review of requirements for affordable housing in Scotland as a whole, and possible policy responses.

Justice

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will evaluate the use of intermediaries to facilitate evidence giving by vulnerable witnesses.

Hugh Henry: We will carry out a detailed assessment of the evaluation of the piloting of intermediaries in England and Wales and compare it with those carried out on other schemes used elsewhere in the world.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many means warrants are outstanding within the Strathclyde Police area.

Cathy Jamieson: This is a matter for Strathclyde Police. We understand from Strathclyde Police that on 14 April 2004 there were 20,249 warrants outstanding.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrest warrants are outstanding within the Strathclyde Police area.

Cathy Jamieson: This is a matter for Strathclyde Police. We understand from Strathclyde Police that on 14 April 2004 there were 5,327 warrants outstanding.

Local Government

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that local authorities deliver high quality, value for money services.

Mr Andy Kerr: The reports of scrutiny bodies, particularly the Accounts Commission, and this year's statutory performance indicators show further improvement in the performance of local government. We are constantly striving for continuous improvement across the public sector which is why we continue to work with local authorities on achieving best value and the sharing of good practice.

Local Government

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any guidance will be issued in relation to councillors and council officers participating in governing boards or managing committees of organisations receiving funds from local authorities.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has no plans to issue any general guidance to councillors or council officers participating in governing boards or managing committees of organisations which receive funds from local authorities.

  Councillors are, however, bound by the statutory Code of Conduct for Councillors when representing the council on external bodies. The Standards Commission is responsible for overseeing observance of the code which includes issuing guidance and advice on all aspects of the code. The conditions of service of local authority employees are a matter for individual local authorities.

Planning

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure maximum public involvement in its consultations on Making Development Plans Deliver and Rights of Appeal in Planning .

Mrs Mary Mulligan: We are consulting widely. The initial distribution of the consultation papers sent copies to a wide range of interested organisations and individuals. The consultations have been well publicised and we are continuing to provide copies of the papers to anyone who requests them.

  In addition, the consultation papers are available on the Executive's website.

  Consultation will be an active process. We will meet our stakeholders during the consultation period, which ends on 30 July.

Planning

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure a full and varied response to its consultation on rights of appeal in planning.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: We are consulting widely. The initial distribution of the consultation paper sent copies to a wide range of interested organisations and individuals. The consultation has been well publicised and we are continuing to provide copies of the paper to anyone who requests them.

  In addition, the consultation paper is available on the Executive's website.

  Consultation will be an active process. We will meet our stakeholders during the consultation period, which ends on 30 July.

Police

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of heightened international tensions and the continuing threat of terrorist attacks, whether funding will be made available, or other additional measures taken, such as increased police patrols, to improve security for places of worship.

Cathy Jamieson: The Police routinely monitor security for places of worship and the need for additional security at these and other sites is kept under constant review, in light of current threat levels and intelligence. Additional funding is being provided to the police for security measures.

Public Sector

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards the 2005 electronic service delivery target.

Mr Andy Kerr: We have today published the Executive's 5th Electronic Service Delivery Progress Report . Overall 87% of services provided by the Executive, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are now available online to some degree. This represents a 5% increase since the 4th report was published in March last year. There has also been an increase in the number of services reported from 539 to 585.

  There has been some delay in compiling this 5th report since we have developed a new database to make it much easier for respondents to provide the information we need. Further enhancements are planned. Copies of the report have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre. It is also available on the OpenScotland website at www.openscotland.gov.uk. Future reports will issue at six monthly intervals.

Rail Network

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making on the Aberdeen Crossrail project.

Nicol Stephen: The development of the Aberdeen Crossrail proposal is being led by Aberdeenshire Council, in partnership with Aberdeen City Council. I understand that a full appraisal of the proposal is currently being prepared in accordance with the Scottish Executive's Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance.

Rail Network

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support a campaign for improved rail connections between Lanark and Edinburgh.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is committed to improvements to the Scottish rail network. Any proposed scheme should offer real benefits to passengers, represent value for money, and support the delivery of the Scottish Executive's broader strategic objectives.

Registers of Scotland

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it expects Registers of Scotland to achieve in 2004-05.

Hugh Henry: Scottish ministers have set Registers of Scotland the following key targets for 2004-05:

  Financial

  1. to achieve a return of 15% on net capital employed over the three-year period ending 31 March 2005;

  2. to reduce the standard production cost index by 2% by 31 March 2005 from its base at 31 March 2004;

  Speed of Registration

  3. to achieve recording and registration turnaround times in 2004-05:

  - averaging no more than 15 working days over the year as a whole, and in any four-week period averaging no more than 25 working days, for Sasine Writs;

  - averaging no more than 25 working days over the year as a whole, and in any four-week period averaging no more than 30 working days, for dealings with whole;

  - averaging no more than 90 working days over the year as a whole, and in any four-week period averaging no more than 105 working days, for domestic first registrations received over the last 12 months;

  (The four-week periods referred to are the 13 periods into which Registers of Scotland divides its production year. "Dealings with whole" are registrations involving a property title that is already on the Land Register. "First registrations" are where an entire property is registered on the Land Register for the first time, either because it is new or as a result of a transaction transferring it from the Register of Sasines.)

  4. to eliminate stocks of domestic first registrations over one year old during the next three years, with a milestone reduction of 25% from the stock position at 31 March 2004 by 31 March 2005;

  Registration Accuracy

  5. to achieve a registration accuracy rate of at least 98% for applications despatched during the previous 12 months;

  Customer Service

  6. to continue to operate at Charter Mark standards by:

  - achieving a 98% rating for overall customer care in the annual customer satisfaction survey; and continuing a rolling programme of offering customer service reviews to customers with 50 completed in 2004-05;

  - processing 97% of all customer enquiries in compliance with the agency's published response standards;

  Income from Information Provision

  7. to maintain both market share and income level derived from the Land Register reports service over the next three years, based on the position in 2003-04;

  8. to continue the growth of Registers Direct by achieving revenue growth of 15% over three years from the level in 2003-04. The milestone target for 2004-05 will be 7.5%.

Rural Development

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what priority it attaches to the provision of services in rural areas.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is committed to the provision of public services that are of the highest possible quality, for both urban and rural areas. The community planning process is ensuring that services are planned in partnership, through community engagement, which leads to improved provision. The Scottish Rural Partnership Fund provides financial assistance to rural communities to develop and improve local services. In rural areas, this is leading to joined up services which are more accessible and which better meet local needs.

Rural Development

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how its policy on sustainable rural communities is implemented by departments other than its Environment and Rural Affairs Department.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is committed to maintaining strong, prosperous and growing communities in rural Scotland. Whilst the Environment and Rural Affairs Department coordinates rural policy, the activity to deliver this commitment is undertaken by a wide range of departments and agencies. The Rural Scotland: Taking Stock report published in March 2003 outlined the many steps the Executive is taking to deliver benefits for rural communities. We shall be publishing later this year another report on progress towards delivery of the Executive's rural commitments.

School Meals

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by each local authority in increasing the use of fresh fruit and vegetables in school meals.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has committed significant resources to the implementation of the recommendations in the Expert Panel on School Meals' report, Hungry for Success.  This includes encouraging the serving of larger portions of more nutritious food, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. The Executive has also committed additional funds of £2 million over three years to provide all pupils in primaries 1 and 2 with one piece of fruit three times a week.

  Individual education authorities are responsible for implementation, and have been offered an additional £57.5 million over three years to deliver initiatives under Hungry for Success. There are positive signs of progress by authorities.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to encourage local authorities to make use of rural schools for the benefit of the local community.

Peter Peacock: The school estate strategy, developed jointly by the Scottish Executive and COSLA in 2002, recognises that all schools make an important contribution to the wider community. They potentially provide a real or potential resource for the community, for example, offering opportunities for life long learning, culture, recreation and sport. Schools will serve a number of different communities – of place, of interest – each with differing needs. In developing local solutions to best meet local needs, authorities will have to balance competing needs and take account of the community plan.

Scottish Water

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Scottish Water and what issues were discussed.

Ross Finnie: My deputy met Scottish Water on Tuesday. The discussion focussed on the delivery of the current capital programme.

Tourism

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what moves it proposes to make to ensure that other parts of Scotland feature along with the Highlands in National Geographic's Top 10 for sustainable tourism.

Mr Frank McAveety: I am delighted that the Highlands has made National Geographic's Top 10 for sustainable tourism. Our Partnership for a Better Scotland sets out a number of policies for sustainable tourism, including building on the natural resources to turn Scotland into a year round destination.

  This is a growing market and I would urge all tourism businesses across Scotland to embrace sustainable tourism to make Scotland one of Europe's leading sustainable tourism destinations.

Transport

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities who wish to initiate quality bus contracts.

Nicol Stephen: Discussions have taken place with a number of local authorities regarding use of the bus powers in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001.

Voluntary Sector

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role the voluntary sector can play in helping young people who face exclusion from school to remain in school or otherwise benefit from education.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive recognises the important role the voluntary sector plays in partnership with schools and education authorities, not only providing direct support and services to pupils facing exclusion, but also helping to tackle the wide range of social problems within communities that can contribute to children's difficulties in education.

Young People

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how policy is developing to address the issue of school leavers not entering education, employment or training.

Lewis Macdonald: There have been a number of developments to support school leavers at risk of not entering education, employment or training, such as the delivery by Careers Scotland of new key worker services; investment in training and development and the new BRITE initiative at Stevenson College to build capacity across the further education sector, and the development of Get Ready for Work, the new national training model for 16- to17-year-olds who require additional support. In addition, 12 local authorities are acting as pathfinders in the delivery of post-school psychological services over the next two years.